NEWS RELEASE
for Men’s Ministry in the PCA
Greetings PCA
Brothers in Christ,
This e-letter is
the first of its kind in the PCA directed toward men who want to
disciple other men, and help one another grow in Christ. This
endeavor is a joint project of CE/P and Man In The Mirror (MIM).
Both organizations are very much committed to training, equipping,
and providing resources to local churches in their mission of
reaching and discipling men for Christ. It has been felt for a long
time that there needs to be a network, if not an organizational
structure, for men to belong to in the PCA.
As you read Pat
Morley’s comments below you will see the magnitude of the battle men
face. It shows that men need each other in following Jesus Christ
the Captain of their salvation. Hence we have issued the call to
“Get in the Game.”
Click here to sign up for this new monthly e-newsletter. If you
know of others in your church, who should be receiving it please
forward this letter to them as well. We would like to have at least
one “go-to-guy” in each church to champion the cause and sign on to
receive “Get In The Game” e-letter. Gary Yagel who is a
Teaching Elder in the Potomac Presbytery will be working with CE/P
staff in putting together the monthly e-letter. Gary has extensive
experience both in pastoral ministry as well as discipling men.
We envision seeing
men who are already in men’s ministry grow in their enthusiasm for
leading other men into the battle for winning their families, their
churches, and their communities to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We
also want to hear about some of your game strategies, and game
players in this great endeavor.
CE/P’s prayer is
that “Get In The Game” will help you be a better disciple-making
coach and player. Now it’s time to get into the Playbook. Read on.
The Case for a Men's Discipleship
Program
There is raging all around us a battle
for men's souls. Men are under siege as husbands, fathers, workers,
citizens, and churchmen. Many have already failed.
For every 10 men in today's church...
9 will have kids who leave the church
(1)
8 will not find their jobs satisfying (2)
6 pay the monthly minimum on their credit card balances (3)
5 have a major problem with pornography (4)
4 will get divorced affecting 1,000,000 children per year (5)
only 1 has a biblical worldview (6)
all 10 will struggle to balance work and family
When a man fails it sets powerful
forces of bondage and brokenness in motion. It can take several
generations to break the cycle.
As America staggers beneath the load of
a 100 major problems like divorce, fatherlessness, poverty,
pornography, adultery, abortion, disrespect for authority, ethical
failures, and truancy-where have the men gone? Where are the men? What
has happened to our men? (click here to continue
reading this article by Pat Morley)
A Healthy Church
(A Layman's Letter to
His Pastor)
Dear Pastor,
As I was sitting in church on
Sunday, I decided to write you this letter. When the service
began, this is what I found myself thinking...
I'm here, pastor, I'm here. I
worked 55 hours this week (that's five days from 8 to 6 and
2 hours every night after the kids went to bed), slept 48
hours (I'm short one whole night), spent Saturday morning
shuttling between soccer games, worked Saturday afternoon on
the yard, took my wife to dinner Saturday night, and now
here I am on Sunday morning.
All week long the world has
told me to buy everything from computers to cars, and to
want everything from more sex to more fun. My boss is not
happy with me, nor I with him. My spouse appreciates my
problems, but she has problems of her own. She's frustrated
that I don't spend enough time with the family, but doesn't
complain about the money. Besides, I can't share many of my
struggles with her-like sexual temptations, work overload,
and how to cover all these bills. The kids need more of me,
but it's not like they can really tell the difference-I've
always shorted them.
Meanwhile, I read my Bible
and prayed four mornings this week-a total of one hour. I
don't wake up in the morning wanting to fail. My intentions
are good, but I still fall short.
Because I love you so much
and want the best for you, I decided to write a letter and
share my thoughts about our church. I'm only speaking for
myself, but here are ten things I think most of us men
really need. (click here to continue
reading this article by Pat Morley)
|
Building a Sustainable Men's Ministry
Step 1: Find 1-3 Men's Ministry
"Go to Guys"
"Developing a lasting men's
ministry in your church starts with leadership. Nothing in ministry,
or all of life for that matter, happens without leadership. Until you
have a man willing to lead your men's ministry, you will have a
difficult time getting it started. In fact, you may want to hold off
starting your ministry until you have your point man in place."
Chip MacGregor, Effective Men's Ministry
A great way to begin to identify those
who could lead your men's ministry is to think through 3-5 potential
men's ministry champions and send them a copy of this e-letter with a
suggestion that they consider subscribing to it, and becoming part of
a men's ministry leadership team. Then, see which men respond.
From this group, look for 1-3 men to be
the leaders of the men's ministry. One man can take the initiative to
build a team around him. But since 2 are better than one and a 3 fold
bond is not easily broken, 2 or 3 men sharing the leadership role is
ideal.
Here are 5 key qualities to look for in
considering a men's ministry "Go to Guy"
One who models faithful discipleship as
a follower of Christ. This is mostly a matter of direction not
perfection, but leaders should be a reasonable way down the path to
spiritual maturity. They don't have to be ready to be elders; but they
should be headed that way.
Humility. Humility is reflected in
having a supportive attitude towards the pastor and leadership of the
church, and in having a teachable spirit. It desires to honor and
encourage others, and views the goal of ministry as glorifying God.
A servant's heart. Men don't need one
more person in their life to nag them or lay a guilt trip on them. If
the tone of men's ministry is to "straighten them out," it
will fail. Using men to accomplish their men's ministry agenda will
quickly be detected.
Initiative. Leaders are self-motivated. They act. Pastors and elders
do not have the time to keep pushing men's ministry leaders to do
something.
Passion. Those with leadership gifts by
definition are self-motivated; but if they don't have a passion for
men's ministry they will move on to some other ministry. Men's
ministry is tough. If it were easy, more churches would be successful
at it. The only leaders who will show the endurance it takes to build
a strong, sustainable men's ministry will be those with a fire in
their belly for men's ministry.
PCA Men's Ministry News
The March issue of
Equip for Ministry is focused on
Men's Ministry and contains timely thoughts from:
| Charles Dunahoo |
Coordinator |
CE&P |
| Pete Alwinson |
Pastor |
Willow Creek
Presbyterian Church |
| Patrick Morely |
Founder |
Man in the Mirror |
| Richard
Aeschliman |
Resource
Coordinator |
CE&P |
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